Wright State communication student gains experience in Attorney General’s Office

Wright State student and intern Gervonna Bolding (center with striped shirt and medal) with Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine’s staff in an Olympics-themed photo.

With an ever-growing scope of media-related opportunities, choosing a career can be a daunting task for mass communication majors. However, internships provide these students with substantial insight into which career might suit them best.

For Gervonna Bolding, a paid media internship in Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine’s office has paved the way for future career opportunities in the vast field of communication.

A senior in Wright State’s mass communication program, Bolding was competitively selected among undergraduate students from Ohio’s public and private universities.

“In my interview, I expressed how much I love my field. I love that it’s so diverse, but I really want to find what area best fits me and gain as much experience as I can,” said Bolding. “In spite of my lack of professional experience, I’m so grateful that they offered me the opportunity.”

Since beginning her internship in June, Bolding has gained skills and abilities that will help her flourish as a future professional. Every project that comes across her desk has a pressing deadline, so Bolding has developed a strong sense of efficiency and urgency.

Because Bolding is directly associated with DeWine, her work in the communication department has the utmost importance.

“My day usually consists of  updating all of his media contact information,” Bolding said. “This requires a lot of research, calling and interacting with these sources to get the information I need.”

Bolding has created a spreadsheet of contact information for reporters, radio hosts, newspapers and media management in Ohio.

Owing much to Wright State, Bolding said that a communication strategic leadership course prepared her the most for her internship, but she is thankful for the entire communication curriculum: “They’ve all helped me develop a broad perspective of communication, and now I’m just learning how to actually apply them in a work setting.”

Upon Bolding’s graduation in December, she plans to harness her experiences in the Ohio Attorney General’s Office to aid her in the professional media field.